Belmont World Film‘s 16th Annual Family Festival, “Where Stories Come Alive,” offers nearly four full days of some of the world’s best films for children and adults, as well as a live concert on opening night accompanying the silent films of George Méliès (the subject of Martin Scorcese’s Hugo) and a live version of WBUR’s “Circle Round,” which sold out last year at the Regent. Films are screened in English or their native language with subtitles, most of which will be read aloud via headphones for young readers, and many are being screened in the US for the first time. It might even be your only time to see them in New England.

Each day revolves around a different theme: Saturday’s Day 2 (STUDIO CINEMA, Belmont) is devoted to nature; Sunday (REGENT THEATRE, Arlington) to kids not limited by their disabilities; and Monday (BRATTLE THEATRE, Cambridge) to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many films are based on international children’s literature and include stories about birds, nature, a swashbuckling rat, a magical train, a winning lacrosse team, and more.

Day 3 programming includes:

12:15 PM – Laugh Out Loud with Mo Willems

Perhaps no children’s book author is as popular as Mo Willems, who also narrates his books’ animated versions produced by Weston Woods Studios. This program includes: the never-before-seen Nanette’s Baguette; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale; Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus; Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed; Leonardo the Terrible Monster; Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator; and Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. (Age 3-8).

1:30 PM – Chuskit
US premiere | India | 90 min. | Ladakhi with subtitles read aloud through headphones | 2018
To chase her dream of going to school in her remote Himalayan village in India, a feisty girl, who lost use of her legs in an accident, locks horns with her tradition-bound grandfather. Based in part on a true story (Age 8+).

3:15 PM – The Witch Hunters
Serbia | 90 min. | Serbian with subtitles read aloud through headphones | 2018
A 10 year-old boy with cerebral palsy often retreats to the fantasy world he’s built where he imagines himself to be a superhero. His life changes when he befriends a new classmate and the adventure to hunt her ‘witch’ stepmother begins. Best Film winner at the Toronto International Film Festival for Kids (Age 8+).

5:00 PM – Ballad from Tibet
New England premiere | China | 73 min. | Chinese & Tibetan with subtitles read aloud through headphones | 2017
Based on the true story of students from a school for the blind in the Tibetan Himalayas who walk from Gyangzê to Shenzen, China to fulfill their dream of singing on a famous reality TV show. One of the students, who has partial eyesight, acts as their guide through the mountainous terrain, but they must all work together to arrive in time for the show. Facing numerous challenges along the way, they demonstrate strength of character as they set out to prove they are more capable than people give them credit (Age 8+).

Share this event

Add to:

20/01/2019 10:30:00 20/01/2019 12:00:0015Belmont World Film's 16th Annual Family Festival: Day 3 Belmont World Film‘s 16th Annual Family Festival, “Where Stories Come Alive,” offers nearly four full days of some of the world’s best films for children and adults, as well as a live concert on op... Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA 02474OrganizerOrganizer e-mailfalseDD/MM/YYYY Reddit